The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has slammed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over their decision to exclude Ramnaresh Sarwan from the list of players on central contracts for 2010-2011, disputing the board’s claim that the Guyanese batsman had a bad attitude and approach to fitness and physical preparation.
WIPA stated that Sarwan was informed by the WICB chairman of selectors Clyde Butts that his exclusion was due to “concerns about his level of fitness and the frequency of injuries.”
Sarwan said Butts never indicated to him during this or any other previous conversation that there were concerns about attitudinal or behavioral issues.
This has triggered a war of words between the WIPA and the WICB.
Recently WIPA condemned the WICB decision, citing a Jan. 11, 2010 letter sent to WICB CEO Ernest Hilaire in which the regional organization referred to a review that expressed concerns about Sarwan’s attitude and approach to training and physical preparation.
The board stated Sarwan was repeatedly told by the WICB team specialist that he needed to improve his fitness during the Jamaica Cricket Festival, adding that he failed to follow instructions by coach Ottis Gibson and chose to follow his rehabilitation in Canada.
The WICB added that WIPA has no role in determining, which players are nominated for retainer contracts, which is under the purview of the WICB’s Selection Committee and that the board has acted “in the best interest of West Indies cricket with regard to the list of players offered retainer contracts for the year 2010-2011.”
